1/8 Legislative Update

These weekly updates are to inform those interested in public education in Mineral Point what is happening that may impact school stakeholders. These updates are designed to be informative, factual, and non-partisan.

1/8: The Senate Elections and Local Government Committee, chaired by state Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), has scheduled a public hearing Thursday, January 14 9:30 AM 201 Southeast, State Capitol.

Amongst other proposals the committee will hear:

Senate Bill 355 by Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Rep. Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) Relating to: limitations on borrowing by school districts and the use by school districts of resolutions and referenda to authorize bonding for capital projects or increase revenue limits and scheduling of school district referendums to exceed revenue limits. As we have noted previously, an amendment has been proposed to each bill to reduce the original two-year (730-day) proposed moratorium period on additional referenda, bonding and borrowing following a failed referendum to one year (365 days). The proposed amendment also removes restrictions on short-term borrowing proposed as part of the original bill. All other restrictions on borrowing (promissory notes, state trust fund loans, etc.) would remain in the bill even if this amendment is adopted.

1/7: A pair of bills designed to permit child welfare workers to gain access to pupil records of pupils in out-of-home placement (e.g., foster care) received public hearings January 6. The bills are authored by state Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) and state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills). These bills are the result of efforts by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) who have been working to improve the educational outcomes of children in the child welfare system. A critical component identified in these discussions was the importance of having timely and accurate data on the educational activities of children in the child welfare system so that their educational needs can be identified and interventions begun quickly. This would include information on things like student mobility, attendance, and suspensions.

1/4: The Senate Education Committee, chaired by state Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon), held a public hearing on Senate Bill 412, relating to providing lifesaving skills instruction to pupils on Wednesday, January 6. This bill, authored by Senator Jerry Petrowski (R- Marathon) and Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield), requires school boards to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary and cardiocerebral resuscitation in any health education course offered to pupils in grades 7 to 12 and to provide instruction about automated external defibrillators to pupils in grades 7 to 12, beginning in the 2017-18 school year. Under current law, a school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school is required to offer instruction about cardiopulmonary and cardiocerebral resuscitation and to provide automated external defibrillators to pupils enrolled in high school grades.